Why isn potassium listed on most food labels?
– G.B. Potassium, which has the chemical symbol K, is one of the body’s key electrolyte minerals. It regulates the water balance inside our cells. (Contrast this with sodium, which regulates water balance outside the cells.) Potassium is also involved in maintaining the body’s acid-base balance and in the transmission of nerve signals, which makes it key to such activities as keeping the heart beating. You want to avoid having too much potassium, and supplementation is not usually needed unless there is a specific health problem or a medication is being used that might deplete the body of this mineral. If the kidneys are working normally, any excess potassium will be excreted in the urine. The adult Daily Value for potassium is 3,500 milligrams per day. It can be listed on a food label, but it is not required. The best food sources for potassium include fresh, whole foods such as potatoes, acorn squash, artichokes, pomegranates, bananas, legumes, citrus fruit and avocados. Ed Blonz, Ph
